Portable bailer

ABSTRACT

A portable bailer is used to remove liquid such as water from a watercraft, such as an open-topped powerboat or rowboat. The bailer features an electrically actuated liquid pump contained within a one-piece protective external molded housing also containing a suitable battery such as a suitable rechargeable battery in close proximity to the liquid pump and operative to provide power to the liquid pump upon actuation. The liquid pump and battery are located intermediate an elongated input section and an elongated output section of respective indeterminate lengths. A portion in close proximity to the distal end of the output section is formed into an inverted J-like configuration operative to direct the pumped liquid outwardly over the gunnel of the watercraft.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed generally to a portable bailer. Moreparticularly, the present invention is directed to a portable bailerused to remove liquid such as water from watercraft such as anopen-topped powerboat or rowboat. More specifically, the presentinvention is directed to a portable bailer including anelectrically-operated liquid pump in close proximity to a power sourcesuch as a battery pack. The pump and battery pack are enclosed within aone-piece protective external molded housing intermediate elongatedinput section and an elongated output section of respectiveindeterminate lengths, with a portion in close proximity to a distal endof the output section formed into an inverted J-like configurationoperative to direct the liquid over the gunnel of the watercraft. Thepump is actuated by a manual switch preferably mounted on an externalhandle secured to or integral with an external surface of the moldedhousing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Various electrically-operated pump assemblies have been proposed in thepast for use in the removal of liquids such as water from watercraft.The majority of these, however, are intended for use in applications inwhich weight, compactness, and simplicity of operation are not primaryfactors. These prior art devices typically utilize float switches thatmay be permanently secured to the floor of the vessel, or may float onthe surface of the water in the vessel. None of these prior art devicesare suitable for use in watercraft such as an open-topped powerboat orrowboat where ease of operation, durability, portability,light-weightedness, and speed of removal of liquid from the watercraftis essential. One example of prior art can be found in U.S. Pat. No.5,669,323 in which an automatic bailer is disclosed for removing waterfrom a white water canoe. This bailer, however, differs from the bailerof the present invention by utilizing a float-actuated pump and nothaving a battery and pump in close proximity located within a single,external molded housing located intermediate elongated input and outputsections of respective indeterminate lengths, as associated with theportable bailer of the present invention. The prior art bailer alsoutilizes a 12-volt battery located outside the housing surrounding thepump rendering the combination extremely heavy and difficult to move.Also another prior art publication is Canadian application CA 2484798for a cordless dockside boat bailer which differs from the proposedbailer. It differs by having a bilge pump located at the distal end ofthe input section and having an output section intermediate the batteryand the pump and also having external electrical wiring between thebattery and the pump highly subject to damage. Also of interest, thefollowing U.S. patents are listed for general information: U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,493,982; 5,257,590; and 5,211,363. Also of interest are thefollowing Canadian patents: CA 542062; CA 667804; CA 519585; and CA445313.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable bailer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide anelectrically-operated, battery-powered, portable bailer. A furtherobject of the present invention is to provide a portable bailer thatutilizes a liquid pump and battery in close proximity to each otherwithin an external one-piece molded housing. Yet a further object of thepresent invention is to provide a portable bailer in which the externalhousing is disposed intermediate elongated input and output sections ofindeterminate length extending therefrom. An additional object of thepresent invention is to utilize a portable bailer which is light-weight,easy-to-handle, and less subject to damage by having the pump andbattery contained in close-proximity to each other within a protectiveone-piece molded housing.

The portable bailer, in accordance with the present invention, includesan electrically-operated liquid pump that is connected to a power sourcesuch as a battery pack. (preferably a rechargeable battery pack). Theportable bailer, in accordance with the present invention, preferablyincludes a one-piece molded external housing surrounding the pump andbattery that are in close proximity to each other and are disposedintermediate input and output sections extending therefrom of respectiveindeterminate lengths and having passageways therethrough that arerespectively in liquid communication with the liquid pump.

The portable bailer of the present invention is preferablymanually-operated through provision of an electrical switch preferablylocated upon an external handle either secured to or integral with anouter surface of the molded external housing. The switch is preferably aslide or a push button-type switch but may also be a toggle, or arocker-type switch, or another suitable switch. The use of such a manualswitch keeps the portable bailer simple and enables one to turn the pumpon when the watercraft has accumulated water, and to turn the pump offwhen the watercraft has been bailed out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the novel features of the portable bailer in accordance with thepresent invention are set forth with particularity in the appendedclaims, a full and complete understanding of the present invention maybe had by referring to the following detailed description of somepreferred embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the portable bailerof the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the portable bailer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of another embodiment of the portablebailer of the invention having a pair of spaced-apart electricalrecharging contacts;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of yet another embodiment of theportable bailer of the invention having a replaceable filter at theinput end;

FIG. 5 is a partial backside view of yet another embodiment of theportable bailer of the invention having a battery access door on thebackside, taken along site lines 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of yet another embodiment of theportable bailer of the invention having a replaceable plug and filterdisposed at a distal end of the inlet section;

FIG. 7 is an exploded partial view of the embodiment of the replaceablefilter and plug combination in the portable bailer of the invention asshown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a partial front view of yet another embodiment of the portablebailer of the invention having at least one light-emitting diodeoperative to indicate the charging state of the battery;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of yet another embodiment of theportable bailer of the invention having a releasably-securable inletsection; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of yet another embodiment of theportable bailer of the invention having releasably-secured input andoutput sections and further including a replaceable filter between theliquid pump and battery housing and the inlet section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, portable bailer 30 has a one-piece protective external moldedhousing comprising intermediate Section 2 surrounding a liquid pump anda power source such as a battery in close proximity to each other andfrom which extend an outlet or output Section 3 having an indeterminatelength L₂ and having a portion in close proximity to a distal end 14formed into a substantial inverted J-like configuration. Section 3 has aliquid passageway 21 therethrough in liquid communication with theliquid pump. Bailer 30 also has an input or inlet Section 4 having anindeterminate length L₁ and having a distal end 10. Inlet Section 4 hasa liquid passageway 22 therethrough in liquid communication with theliquid pump. Although shown in the Figures as having a substantiallytubular cross-sectional configuration, inlet Section 4 and/or outletSection 3 may have any cross-sectional configuration provided that thebailer of the invention operates in the manner desired. Bailer 30 isalso provided with a handle 5, operative to enable a person to hold thebailer of the invention by hand and is either secured to or moldedintegrally with the protective molded housing enclosing the liquid pumpand the battery. Bailer 30 of FIG. 1 is also provided with an electricalswitch member 6 that is preferably mounted on handle 5 for ease ofoperation. Handle 5 may also be mounted upon an external surface of themolded housing wherever suitable for actuation. Although switch 6 ispreferably a slide or push-button type switch, it may be any type ofelectric switch deemed suitable for the actuation of the liquid pumpsuch as a rocker-arm or toggle type switch provided it is operable toactuate the liquid pump upon actuation of the switch. Bailer 30 is alsoprovided with a battery compartment access door 8. Although shown inFIGS. 1-4, 8, and 10 as located on the front side of the bailer of theinvention, the battery compartment access door may be located at anysuitable location on the outer surface of the molded housing such as,for example shown on the backside of Section 2 facing away from handle 5in FIGS. 6 and 9.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the portable bailer of theinvention wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of either orboth inlet Section 4 and outlet Section 3 is grooved or corrugated toprovide a bellows-like configuration operative to enhance flexibilitysuch referenced by numerals 25 and 25A.

Although not shown in the figures, housing Section 2 of the portablebailer of the invention may have one or more air vents therethrough forcooling the liquid pump if required.

FIG. 2 shows a partial front view of Bailer 30 taken along site-lines2-2 shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 3, distal end 10 of inlet Section 4 of the bailer of theinvention is provided with at least one radially extending opening 11operative to enable liquid to flow into passageway 22 at distal end 10in the event that it presses against the bottom of the watercraft duringoperation.

The embodiment of the bailer of the invention shown in FIG. 5, takenalong site-line 5-5 in FIG. 4, includes electrical-charging contacts 7Aand 7B spaced-apart from each other (only contact 7A is shown in theside elevation view of FIGS. 3-5, 6, 9 and 10) that are operative toregister with and electrically engage corresponding electrical chargingcontacts located upon electrical-charging stands such as are well knownto those skilled in the art.

Although spaced-apart electrical charging contacts 7A and 7B arepreferably located on the backside of the bailer of the invention facingaway from handle 5 as shown in the Figure's, they may be disposed at anylocation on the outer surface of the molded housing provided thelocation is operable to permit the charging process.

The absence of space-apart electrical-charging contacts 7A and 7B fromBailer 30 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is indicative of the fact that thebailer of the invention may utilize ordinary non-rechargeable batteries,typically ranging from approximately 9 volts to 24 volts, orrechargeable batteries that are removed from the housing and chargedapart from the portable bailer of the invention.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, an embodiment of the bailer of the invention is shownthat further includes a filter 11 releasably secured to distal end 10 ofinlet Section 4. Filter 11 typically comprises one or more screensoperative to prevent debris or the like from entering into passageway 20of Section 4 and thereby preventing clogging or damage to the liquidpump.

FIG. 6 also shows an embodiment of the bailer of the invention having abattery compartment access door 8A located on the backside of the moldedhousing as earlier described with respect to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIGS. 6 and7 further disclose an embodiment of the bailer of the invention having areleasably securable plug 12 disposed at distal end 10 of inlet Section4. Plug 12 has at least one radially extending opening 13 therethroughfor passage of the pumped liquid and is also operative to hold a filtersuch as screen 11 preventing debris or the like from entering passageway22.

In FIG. 8, the bailer of the invention has at least one light-emittingdiode 17 and preferably two spaced-apart light-emitting diodes 17 and 18operative to indicate the electrical charging status of the rechargeablebatteries such as one of the diodes emitting light that is redindicating that charging is in process or a green light indicating thatthe charging process is complete and the battery is fully charged.

The embodiment of the bailer of the invention shown in FIG. 9, featuresan outlet Section 3 that is molded integrally with Section 2 and has anoutlet Section 4 that is releasably secured to Section 2 such as by asuitable collar or the like referenced by numeral 15 or by othersuitable means such as threads, fasteners, or interlocking taperedsurfaces operative to enable one to detach Section 4 from Section 2 andreplace it with another inlet Section when desired.

FIG. 9 also illustrates an embodiment of the portable bailer of theinvention where Section 2 and outlet Section 3 are molded from asubstantially rigid plastic material whereas Section 4 may be made fromeither the same or a more flexible plastic material or otherwise byhaving its outer surface grooved or corrugated into a bellows-likeconfiguration to enhance its flexibility such as referenced by numeral25B as shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of the bailer of the invention wherein bothoutput Section 3 and/or input Section 4 are releasably secured toSection 2 by means of securement collar 15 or other suitable releasablelocking means such that at least one outlet Section 3 or inlet Section 4can be removed or replaced when desired.

The embodiment of the bailer of the invention in FIG. 10 also shows thatfilter 11 may be mounted adjacent to and in liquid communication withthe liquid pump rather than at the distal end 10 of Section 4, asearlier described, keeping in mind however that one would have to removeSection 4 in order to clean filter 11 when necessary.

FIGS. 1, 9 and 10 also show where at least a portion of either or boththe outer surface of outlet Section 3 and inlet Section 4 may be groovedor corrugated to provide a bellows-type configuration as referenced bynumerals 25 and 25A in FIG. 1 and 25B in FIG. 9, and 25B and 25C in FIG.10.

As described herein, the protective molded housing surrounding theliquid pump and battery including Sections 3 and 4 are preferably madefrom a suitable, rigid, plastic material resistant to liquids such aswater, well known to those skilled in the art. Other embodiments of thebailer of the invention that are releasably secured such as inletSection 4 and outlet Section 3 may be made from the same or moreflexible plastic material that is resistant to liquids such as water orotherwise by having at least a portion of their outer surfaces groovedor corrugated to provide a bellows-like configuration operative toenhance flexibility.

1. A portable bailer for removing liquid such as water from a watercrafthaving a bottom, said bailer comprising; A one-piece protective moldedhousing surrounding a liquid pump in close proximity to a battery, Saidhousing having an input section of indeterminate length and an outputsection of indeterminate length having respective liquid passagewaystherethrough in liquid communication with the liquid pump, Said outputsection having a portion in close proximity to a distal end thereofformed into a substantially inverted J-like configuration, Said housinghaving an access door for the battery, Said housing having a handlemounted thereupon, and Said bailer having an electrical switch mountedon the molded housing operative to actuate the liquid pump so as to pumpliquid from the watercraft,
 2. The bailer of claim 1 wherein the batteryis a rechargeable battery.
 3. The bailer of claim 2 including a pair ofspaced-apart electrical charging contacts operative to enable electricalcharging of the battery.
 4. The bailer of claim 1 wherein the housing isa molded plastic housing.
 5. The bailer of claim 4 wherein the moldedplastic housing is a rigid molded plastic housing.
 6. The bailer ofclaim 1 wherein at least one of said inlet and outlet sections isreleasably secured to a section of the housing enclosing the liquid pumpand battery.
 7. The bailer of claim 1 wherein a distal end of the inletsection is provided with a radially extending opening therethroughenabling the bailer to pump liquid upon engagement of the distal endwith the bottom of the watercraft.
 8. The bailer of claims 1 or 6 whereat least one of said inlet and outlet sections is made from a moldedplastic material that is the same as or more flexible than the moldedplastic housing surrounding the liquid pump and battery.
 9. The bailerof claims 1 or 6 where at least one of said outlet and inlet sectionshas a substantially tubular configuration.
 10. The bailer of claims 1 or6 wherein the molded plastic housing includes at least onelight-emitting diode operative to indicate a charging state of thebattery.
 11. The bailer of claims 1 or 6 wherein the distal end of theinlet section has a plug releasably secured thereto having at least oneradially extending opening therethrough operative to enable liquid toflow into the inlet section upon engagement of the distal end with thebottom of the watercraft.
 12. The bailer of claims 1 or 6 including afilter releasably secured to the distal end of the inlet section andoperative to prevent debris from damaging the liquid pump.
 13. Thebailer of claim 11 including a filter held in position by the plug toprevent debris from damaging the liquid pump.
 14. The bailer of claim 12wherein the filter is disposed between the inlet section and the moldedhousing surrounding the liquid pump and battery.
 15. The bailer ofclaims 1 or 6 wherein the handle is integrally secured to the moldedhousing.
 16. The bailer of claims 1 or 6 wherein the switch is mountedon the handle.
 17. The bailer of claims 1 or 6 wherein at least aportion of the outer surface of the inlet and outlet sections is groovedto provide a bellows-like configuration operative to enhanceflexibility.